The Lies That Define Us (Us 2)

I left the hotel behind and ran.

I’d had no idea where I was going, but anywhere that wasn’t there was good with me.

I ran as far as my feet would carry me and ended up ducking into a small café. I took a seat and stayed for as long as I could.

When I left there, I strolled the beach. The sun was blazing hot, and I grew damp with sweat.

I couldn’t believe I told him.

Why did I tell him?

I knew why—keeping the truth from the guy I loved was too painful.

Even still, the burden I’d put on him by knowing the truth was too much. What if he looked at me differently? What if he thought I would never be okay again?

I couldn’t face him—to look into his eyes and have to see pity.

I didn’t want that.

I sunk down into the sand, wishing it would open up and swallow me whole.

Anything so I didn’t have to go back and face him.

I knew I had to, though.

Running away from Blaise was one thing, but running from Liam was something else.

It was late, after dinnertime, when I finally figured out my way back to the hotel.

I trudged through the hotel, my feet like cement blocks beneath my body.

I should have felt lighter by telling Liam, for ridding myself of the secret, but I’d felt worse. I’d already put him in enough danger by being around him, and by telling him the truth? That was a fucking death sentence for him if Blaise ever caught up to me.

I didn’t have my key to the room, so I was forced to knock and hope he was there to answer.

Almost immediately the door swung open.

Liam’s face relaxed with relief and he pulled me into one of the tightest hugs I’d ever experienced.

“Are you hurt?” he asked me, letting go enough so that he could look me over.

“I’m fine.” The words came out stiff. Cutting.

I was the cold one.

“Ari?” He sounded wounded.

“I want to go to bed.” I couldn’t meet his eyes and my tone was bland, monotone.

“Ari, talk to me please. You can’t shut me out after telling me something like that,” he shouted the words, but not in anger. He sounded desperate.

Tears pooled in my eyes. “I shouldn’t have told you.”

He glowered at me. “Fuck yes you should have! You should have told me a long fucking time ago! We’re going to the police right now!”

He grabbed my arm, but I skittered out of his hold. “Don’t you think I would’ve done that if it would have done any good?” I countered. “Blaise is above the police. He’ll throw some money around and make it look like I’m lying, and then I’l

l be the one to end up in trouble for defamation of character. You can’t touch him.”